Intensified



0. A. THOMPSON.

SPARK INTENSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. I918. I

1 ,3 1 2,368, Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

W 7 mag 9502a 5% QMW J OSCAR A. THOMPSON, 0F REDWING', KANSAS.

SPARK-EKTENSIFIEB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Oscar: A. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Redwing, in the county of Barton and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Intensifiers, of which the followin is a specification.

In the operation 0 internal combustion, or explosive, engines utilizing an electric ignition system, spark plugs are generally employed as means for producing the spark whereby the gaseous mixture is fired. These plugs do not operate satisfactorily when fouled from any cause, or when the insulation is cracked.

This invention aims to intensify the spark and cause it to jump directly to the plug and to provide for a plurality of spark gaps when required.

The invention furthermore aims to secure positive firing of the engine even though the plug is fouled or the insulator cracked.

The invention also provides means whereby a cylinder that is mis-firing from any cause may be instantly located, thereby enabling the, cause to be readily traced and remedied.

The drawin illustrates a preferred embodirnent of t e invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing hereto attached:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a spark plug provided with an intesifier embodying the invention, said plug being shown applied to an engine, a fragment of the latter being illustrated in section.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the plug and intensifier.

Fig. 3 is a view of the intenslfier as seen from the underside, the electrode being in section.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the base of the intensifier. Y

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to ,in the, following description and indicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

Specification of ietters Patent.

electrically insulated from the shell L by means of the element 2 which may be of any vitreous or other insulating material.

The intensifier comprises a base 6 which .may be of any insulating material such as compressed paper, hard rubber or the like. The size and configuration of the base 6 are immaterial. The base 6 is mounted upon the electrode 5 and is secured thereto in any manner preferably by means of binding nuts 7 and 8. The binding posts 9 and 10 are mounted upon the base 6 and receive adjustable contact elements 11 and 12 respectively. The contact elements 11 and 12 preferably consist of washers which may be adjusted laterally and circularly. The circular adjustment presents new points for the spark gaps, whereas the lateral adjustment provides for regulating the spark gap. The two fold adjustment of the contact elements 11 and 12 is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 5. The contact elements are made secure by means of the respective binding posts. By loosening the intermediate binding post 10 the contact piece 12 may be adjusted so as to vary the spark gap between the contact elements 11 and 12 and between the contact element 12 and the electrode 5 of the binding nut 7 electrically connected with such electrode.

It will be understood on reference to Fig. 5 thatthe arrangement is such as to provide for a plurality of spark gaps, there being a spark gap between the contact elements 11 and 12 and a spark gap between the contact 12 and the electrode or binding nut 7. Usually a single spark ga is sufficient for the attainment of the o jects of the invention, hence a fuse wire 13 is provided and electrically connects the binding posts 9 and 10. In this case the single spark gap is between the contact element 12 and the electrode 5. The wire 14 from the coil or other source of electric supply is connected to the binding post 9. The current therefore is from wire 14., to post 9, through wire 13 ,to post 10, thence to contact 12, and across the sparkgap to the electrode 5. It will be thus understood that the spark jumps Patented Aug. 5, 19119.. Application filed September as, 1918. Serial No. 255,863. l

directly to the plug, and isof such intensity as to clear any crack that may exist in the insulator or any oil or other matter that may tend to foul the plug and which under ordinary conditions causes the cylinder to misfire.

It will be understood from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing that the invention provides an intensifier which may be readily applied to any type or make of spark plug and which will insure regular firing of the cylinder under conditions which ordinarily would cause the engine to mis-fire. The spark being intensified does not tend to short circuit, if the porcelain or insulator is cracked,

or fail to properly jump the gap between the electrode 5 and point 4 if the plug is fouled by means of grease or carbon. If a plurality of spark gaps is desired the fuse wire 13 is omitted and by relative adjustment of the contact elements 11 and 12 the spark gaps may be adjusted.

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 4 1. A spark plug intensifier comprising a base of insulating material, spaced contact elements, the one adapted to have the lead wire connected thereto and the other adapted to be connected to the electrode of the spark plug, and an intermediate contact element adjustably connected with the base to vary the spark gap between it and the said spaced contact elements.

2. A spark plug intensifier, comprising a contact of approximately circular form having a central opening and securing means passing through the opening of the contact and of such relative proportions to the central opening as to admit of the contact being adjusted circularly to bring new points in sparking position and laterally in any adjusted circular position to vary the spark gap.

A spark plug intensifier, comprising two circularcontacts, adjustable circularly to bring new points in sparking position and laterally in any adjusted circular position to vary the spark gap and means for securing the contacts in the adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

USCAR A. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

C. A. Erna roan, W. L. FRANKLIN. 

